Machine for the wet treatment of fabrics



Feb. 13, 1934. KARRER 1,946,627

MACHINE FOR THE WET TREATMENT OF FABRICS Filed May 25. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1934. H. KARRER MACHINE FOR THE WET TREATMENT OF FABRICS 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25 Feb. 13, 1934. H. KARRER 1,946, 627

MACHINE FOR THE WET TREATMENT OF FABRICS Filed May 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lwwvwu/vw G117:

Feb. 13, 1934. H. KARRER MACHINE FOR THE WET TREATMENT OF FABRICS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 25, 1932 Feb. 13, 1934. H. KARRER 1,946,627

MACHINE FOR THE WET TREATMENT OF FABRICS Filed May 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR THE WET TREATMENT OF FABRICS Hans Karrer, Uzwil, Switzerland Application May 25, 1932, Serial No. 613,579, and in Switzerland October 8, 1931 17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for the wet treatment of fabrics, particularly of the type which comprises four relatively adjustable pressure rolls confining in conjunction with lateral sealing means a treatment space or chamber for the fabrics.

With known machines of this type several control positions are provided for adjusting the individual rolls in mutual pressure engagement, thus rendering the obtainment of the same pressure at all four places of contact between the rolls very difficult or even impossible. Furthermore, this arrangement has the disadvantage that the pressure is not uniformly applied over the whole length of the rolls, so that the treatment space confined by the rolls is only sufficiently sealed, when the pressure exerted on the individual rolls is relatively large.

According to the present invention the above mentioned disadvantages are eliminated by providing a device for increasing and relieving the pressure exerted on the rolls, which device is designed to enable the simultaneous exertion of a uniform pressure at all four places of contact between the rolls and along the entire length of the same, in such manner, that during the pressure regulation the pressure applied to the rolls is automatically equalized.

By these means a complete sealing effect by the rolls is obtained for the treatment space with a minimum of pressure application, the pressure between the rolls being equally distributed. Therefore, a uniform finish for the treated fabrics results and goods that are liable to be damaged by high pressures are preserved. Moreover, the attendance of the machine is considerably simplified, the regulation of the pressure for all four rolls being possible at both sides of the machine and at thesame time, from a single position.

Suitably the device for increasing and relieving the pressme is so constructed that from a single operators position a uniform relieving eifect and a complete separation of the rolls is executable.

lhe hitherto known machines for the wet treatment of fabrics are further provided with lateral sealing plates for tightly closing the treatment space confined by the rolls of the machine, and the plates are adapted to be inserted in the star-shaped space formed between the rolls in the axial direction. To this arrangement for the sealing plates, however, the drawback is inherent that the pressure exerted between the rolls is not adjustable and that with the pressure increasing and a slight deformation of the surfaces of the rolls ensuing therefrom the sealing plates are jammed thus retarding the run of the machine. There are also sealing plates known which are pressed against the front sides of the rolls by means of several, usually four screw spindles, but with this construction on the one hand it is hardly possible to obtain a uniform sealing effect as thefour spindles require to be individually operated, and on the other hand, owing to the great fluctuations of temperature in consequence of the application of cold and hot treatment liquors, the plates are either pressed against the rolls with excessive pressure so as to cause considerable wear on the sliding portions, or else with insufiicient pressure, so that the parts are prevented from abutting against each other in a fluid tight manner.

The last-mentioned drawbacks are obviated with the aid of a preferred constructional form of the invention by providing springs acting on laterally disposed sealing plates, in such manner, that the plates abut against the front sides of the rolls with uniform pressure and on the occurrence 30 of displacements of the rolls in the longitudinal direction the respective rolls are automatically returned into normal position by the sealing plates. At the same time a device operable from a single position for regulating the force exercised s5 b-ythese springs may be provided, by means of which on all four rolls a uniform sealing pressure is exerted.

In the accompanying drawings several constructional forms of the invention are illustrated, on by way of example only, in which Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a first constructional form representing the rolls in loaded condition;

Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1 partly in section;

Figs. 3 to 6 show details of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 and 8 are schematical views of the rolls in a relieved and a separated condition respectively;

Fig. 9 shows a side elevation of a second constructional form with the rolls in loaded position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front view partly in section of one side of the machine shown in Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are schematical illustrations of the rolls of this machine in relieved and in separated condition respectively;

Figs. 13 to 15 illustrates a third constructional form of the invention, in a side elevation showing the machine with the rolls in loaded condition,

and with the rolls separated from each other, and

in a fragmentary front view respectively from the one side;

Figs. 16 and 17 show in a side elevation and in a cross-section respectively the lateral sealing means for the treatment space of the first constructional form of the invention;

Figs. 18 and 19 show in a side elevation and in a cross-section respectively the lateral sealing means for the treatment space of the second constructional form of the invention;

Figs. 20 to 23 illustrate schematically the rolls in different relatively axially displaced positions,

Fig. 20 being a side elevation of the rolls and the related sealing plate;

Fig. 21 a longitudinal section on the line II in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 a longitudinal section on the line II-eII in Fig. 20, and

Fig. 23 a longitudinal section also on the line I-I in Fig. 20.

Fig. 24 is a cross-section through the pressure rolls shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.25 is a section on the line XXV-XXV in Fig. 24 with the pressure rolls omitted, and

Fig. 26 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 24 showing modified guide means for the fabric.

Referring to the Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, for the first constructional form of the invention in the machine frame 1 the shaft of the roll 2 is mounted which in conjunction with the rolls 3, 4

which is passed through the liquor by the rotating rolls. One of the rolls, for example the stationary roll 2, is operatively connected to driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls. Laterally of the rolls sealing plates 8 are provided f or the liquid-tight closure of the respective treatment space 6 or 7 at these places, the plates being pressed against the front sides of the rolls by means of a spring the thrust of which is adjustable with the aid of a regulating device.

The journals of the roll 4 are mounted in the press levers 16 provided with retracting cam portions 15 and the end of one arm of the lever, which is acted upon by a spring 17, is adapted to bear on an adjustable stop 18, whereas the other end of the lever is pivotally arranged on sleeves 20, eccentrically secured on the shaft 19, which are guided by the side faces of slots 21 in the machine frame. Swingable arms 22 move the shaft 19 bodily in an arcuate path about the stationary shaft 23, when the shaft 19 is turned through an angle of 180 by means of an appropriate operating handle. The shaft 26 provided with the hand crank 25 extends over the full width of the machine and carries at each side of the latter a pair of bevel wheels 27, 28 the operation of which shifts the mounting 30 for the spring 1'7, in the form of a nut for a spindle 29 longitudinally, thus regulating the tensiom'ng of this spring.

The journals of the rolls 3 and 5 are mounted in double armed levers 31, 32 respectively which are pivotally connected at one end by a tie-rod 33 and the other ends of which are connected to the double forked lever 37 fixed to the shaft 36.

On the pivot pins 38 rollers 39 are mounted directly above the cam portions 15 for separating the working rolls. For arresting as well as for turning the shaft 36 mounted in levers 16, a clutch member 41 comprising a spring 42 and guide portions cooperating with plunger pins pivoted to the hand lever 40 is arranged on the end of said shaft. The spring 42 is adapted to urge the pin 43 which is linked to the handlever 40 and slidable in the bore 44 of the press lever 16 inwardly in said bore. The pivot pin 45 of the tie rod 33 is mounted with play in the slot 46 of the guide arm 47 in adjustable manner. The usual winding and unwinding devices are indicated at 48 and 49.

The operation of the hereinbefore described machine is the following:

When the working roll 4 is loaded by tensioning the spring 17, the pressure is transmitted along the superficial lines of contact to the rolls 3 and 5 and thereby to the roll 2. The distance between the rolls 3 and 5 is invariable in the operative position of the rolls for exerting a pressure effect, the levers 31 and 32, the tierod 33, and the links 34 and 35 then forming a closed polygonal mounting frame member similar to a parallelogram, the angles of the polygon being variable to permit an automatic pressure equalization between the four rolls. The pivot pins 38 of the levers 31 and 32 are movable through arcuate paths about the stationary fulcrums of the links 34 and 35, whereas the pivot pin 45 of the lever 31 is adapted to freely shift by virtue of the play provided in the slot 46 of the pivotal lever 4'7 and the lever 32 being linked to the pivot 45. When an increase of pressure is occasioned at one place of contact between the working rolls, for example by a thicker portion in the fabric passing through the same, the rolls are immediately moved apart a correspondingly slight amount at the respective place of contact and accordingly approached by action of the described parallelogram of levers at the other places of contact, thus increasing the pressure at the latter places of contact until the equilibrium of the forces acting in the lever parallelogram is again reestablished and in this manner an automatic equalization of pressure at all lines of contact between working rolls is effected.

Admittedly at some places of contact between rolls, depending on the particular arrangement adapted for the rolls, due to dead weight of the rolls, additional pressure of a certain amount may arise which, however, is intentionally left applied with a view to press the fabric, for example at the last place of contact between working rolls previous to leaving the treatment chamber. Alternatively, the dead weight of the rolls may be counteracted by springs or weights or by correspondingly dimensioning the levers. Aside from this at all four places where pressure is exerted on the fabric an immediate and perfect equalization of pressure is automatically effected upon each variation in the tensioning of the springs 17. Also when subsequently to a pressure relief the rolls are again pressed in engagement by correspondingly turning the shaft 19, the previously established equal distribution of pressure is immediately reestablished. In order to relieve the pressure, the shaft 19 is turned together with the. eccentric sleeves 20 through an angle of 180 by means of the operating handle 24, thus bodily moving the shaft 19 through an arcuate path about the stationary shaft 23, whereby the relation between the eccentric circumference and the slot varies in the direction of the latter by the amount of the eccentricity. During this movement, at first, the press lever 16, is rocked round the axis of the roll 4 by action of the spring 1'7 until it bears on the stop 18, thereupon the roll 4 is retracted from the rolls 3 and 5 by a movement round the stop 18 as a LOO * levers 56 by engagement of the bolts 59.

fulcrum, and as soon as the cam portions 15 contact the rollers 39 the rolls 3 and 5 are also moved out of engagement. By influence of thedead weight of the rolls, roll 3 primarily moves over the surface of the roll 2 in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 7, until the pivot pin 45 bears against the end wall of the slot 45, whereupon both rolls 3 and 5 recede from the roll 2, as indicated in Fig. 7.

Thus, when it is desired to completely relieve all four working rolls quickly, only one operating handle need be turned at one side of the machine. When for the purpose of access to the treatment chamber 6 it is required to move the rolls 3 and 5 further apart, the plunger pin 43 is pulled out of the bore 44 by means of the hand lever 40 and then the clutch member 41 together with the shaft 36 and the two double forked levers 37 at both sides of the machine turned 180. Thereby the rollers 39 connected to the double forked levers 37 by links 34 and 35 move along the cam portions for separating the rolls, as shown in Fig. 8.

With the second constructional form of the invention, illustrated in the Figs. 9 to 12, in the machine frame 1 the shaft of the roll 2 is mounted, which roll again forms in conjunction with the rolls 3, 4 and 5 the closed treatment chamber 6 which is laterally obturated by means of the sealing plates 8. The journal pins of the roll 4 have their bearings in the press levers 16 which at one end are acted upon by a spring 17 and adapted to bear with this end against an adjustable stop 18, while the other end of the lever is rockably arranged on sleeves 20 eccentrically disposed on the shaft 19 and guided in slots 21 in the machine frame. The shaft 26 extending across the full width of the machine and provided with the hand crank 25 carries on each side of the machine a pair of bevel wheels 27, 28 which, when actuated, displace the nutshaped mounting 30 of the spring 17 in the longitudinal direction of the screw spindle 29, thus causing a change in the tensioning of the spring 17.

From a pivot pin 54 provided on the press lever 16 are suspended in the separated condition of the rolls in slots 55 the balance levers 56 in which the bearing pins 57 for the rocker bearings 58 of the rolls' 3 and 5 are accommodated. Pins 59 guided by the balancing levers are adapted to engage in corresponding bores in the rocker bearings 58 for securing the same in the operative position of the working rolls. Gear wheels or .toothed segments 60 respectively carried by the pins 57 engage in small gears 62 on the shafts 61, which gears are adapted to be turned by hand cranks 63 or the like.

The manner of operation of the last described machine is as follows:

In the operative position of the working rolls, with the pressure applied, the distance between the rolls 3 and 5 remains unchanged, the rockable bearings 58 being locked to the balancing The slot 55 engages the pin 54 with sufficient clearance on all sides to permit the balancing lever 56 of adjusting itself, so that the rolls bear against each other at all four places of contact with equal pressure. In a similar manner, as previously described in connection with the constructional example shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, also in this case the additional pressure due to the dead weight of the rolls may be left to remain applied or equalized by balancing effect respectively.

For relieving the pressure the shaft 19 is turned 180, whereby the same way as explained in connection with the first example, at first, the press lever 16 bears against the stop 18, then the roll 4 mounted in the press lever is retracted from the two rolls 3 and 5, until the pin 54'rests against the upper end wall of the slot 55. On further raising the press lever the balancing lever 56 is lifted together with the rolls 3 and5, as shown in Fig. 11. Also with this example the rolls 3 and 5 can be rocked on the retraction of the pins 59, the rockable bearing, by turning the hand crank 63 in the direction of the arrow C in Fig. 9, moving through the intermediary of the gear wheels 60 and 62 into the position shown in Fig. 12. Thus, also in this case, for regulating the pressure but one hand crank 25 need be operated and for relieving the rolls only one of the hand levers 24.

It is obvious that the springs 17 as well as the adjusting device for the same may be replaced for example by a hydraulic arrangement without departing from the principle of the invention.

With the third constructional form, shown in the Figs. 13 to 15, the journal pins of the rolls 2 and 4 are mounted in the frame 1 of the machine. The guide lugs 64 on the bearings 65 are provided with cylindrical bores for receiving the smooth part of the spindles 68, 69 respectively and the lugs 66 on the bearings 67 with screw bores for engagement with the threaded portions or" said spindles. The bearing block for the spindles 68 and 69 also comprises a bearing portion 71 for the screw wheel shaft 72 which connects the two sides of the machine. Springs 73 ,serve for applying the pressure between rolls in adjustable manner and press the lugs 64 against the shoulders 74 on the spindles, when the pressure applied to the rolls is relieved. Small screw wheels 76 carried by the shaft 72 operable by the hand crank engage in larger screw wheels 77, 78 secured to spindles 68, 69. Guide faces 79, 80 comprising terminal stop portions 81, 82 serve for supporting the sets of bearings 64 and 66 for the rolls in the separated position of the latter.

The last-described constructional form of the invention operates as follows:

When in the relieved condition of the rolls, as shown in Fig. 14, the hand crank 75 is turned and 5 the shaft 72 and, consequently, through the intermediary of the screw wheels 76, 77 and 78, also the spindles 68 and 69 in such manner that the latter are screwed into the lugs 66, the springs 73 are compressed and thereby the rolls 3 and 5 approached to each other until they bear against the roll 2. On further approaching the rolls 3 and 5 by action of the springs 73, the rolls ride up on the surface of the roll 2 until they also rest against the roll 4. During this movement 35 the lugs 64 and 66 recede from the guide faces 79, 80 the whole press device thus being solely. supported by the lugs on the bearings 65 and 67, so that the rolls 3 and 5 are enabled to abut against the rolls 2 and 4 with uniform When the four rolls contact each other, the continued turning of the crank 75 causes the shoulders 74 to separate from the lugs 64 and the springs 73 to be compressed, whereby the pressure between the working rolls is increased. In order to enable, for the purpose of access to the treatment space, to move the rolls 3 and 5 apart after the pressure between the rolls is relieved, the hand crank 75 is turned in the opposite directionthan required for exerting pres- 150 pressure.

sure. In this manner the distance between the bearings 65 and 6.7, the respective lugs 64 and 66 of which slide on the guide tracks '79 and until they contact the terminal stops 81, 82, is increased. It will be seen that one and the same hand crank serves for exerting pressure on the working rolls as well as regulating the pressure and also for relieving the rolls from pressure and for moving the rolls into retractedposition.

In the Figs. 16 and 17, the lateral sealing means for the treatment space of the first constructional form of the invention is illustrated.

Sealing plates 8 are pressed against the front sides of-the working rolls 2 to 5 by spring 10 through the intermediary of a three armed lever 9. The tensioning of the spring 10 and accordingly the pressure with which the related plate 8 is urged against the rolls are regulatable by means of a screw spindle 12, which is axially displaceably arranged in the machine frame, the pressure being exerted by the spindle corresponding to the amount to which the latter is displaced in its screw bore in the frame with the aid of the hand wheel 11. The hollow shaft 13 which serves'also as an admission conduit for the dye liquor or steam for heating purposes respectively is passed through the press spindle 12, whilst a stop pin 14 mounted in the machine frame is adapted to prevent the lever 9 from turning about the axis of the shaft 13.

Figs. 18 and 19 represent the lateral sealing means for the. treatment space of the second constructional form of the invention. In this case sealing plates 8 are provided which are pressed against the front sides of the working matically entirely uniformly distributed amongthe four rolls by a single manipulation, so that together with a perfect obturation a minimum of wear on the front sides of the rolls and on the sealing plates is obtained, and consequently also the power required for driving the machine is reduced.

Hereinafter the conditions will be explained which may arise from the axial displacement of one or several rolls, by taking reference to the Figs. 20 to 23.

When the sealing plates are symmetrically arranged about the axis of the machine (Fig. 20), on the left hand side, the pressures between the plate 8 and the rolls 2, 3, 4 and 5 resulting from the spring force Q are equal, i. e. P2=P3=P l= P5= ,Q, and consequently on the right hand When the spring forces are balanced, the equation exists Q=Q from which follows that all the individual pressures P are alike. If, however, the drum 3 would shift axially into the position shown in chain dotted lines in Fig. 21, the left hand sealing plate remains in place as it rests against the rolls 2, 4 and 5. Accordingly the pressure P3 is zero, whereas the pressures P2, P4 and P5 are equal to Q. The sealing plate 8 on the right hand sideis moved away from the rolls 2 and 4, so that the pressures P2 and P4" become zero. The spring force Q is increased correspondingly to the contraction of the respective spring, and the commoncentre of the pressuresbetween the'sealing plate 8 and the rolls 3 and 5 shifts in consequence of the oblique position of the sealing plate, as indicated in dotted lines, suchwise, that the lever arms of these pressures change from a to b and c respectively. Thus the following equations exist: P3+P5=Q, and P3":-P5=b-:-c, and therefore I! b I! On the occurrence of the axial displacement of the roll 3 as illustrated the thrust P3 is thus increased, whereas the thrust P3, becomes zero, so that the roll 3 is automatically moved backwardly by the sealing plate until pressure equilibrium is again established.

When relative axial shifting movement of two adjacent rolls takes place, for example of the rolls 3 and 4 (Fig. 22) the sealing plate 8 tilts about its axis of symmetry, so that on the left hand side the pressure P3 and P4 are almost nil and similarly also the pressures P2 and P5" on the right hand side, whereas onthe left hand side the pressures P2 and Pfi are equal to Q and on the right hand side the pressures P3 and- P4 are also increased to amount to /2 Q, and it will be noted that the spring force Q in its turn increases correspondingly to the contraction of the respective spring. Thus, also in this case the sealing plates 8 have the tendency to return the displaced rolls into normal position.

On the occurrence of relative axial displacement of two oppositely disposed rolls 2, 4 (Fig. 23) the sealing plate 8 on the left hand side remains in position, whereas the sealing plate 8 on the right. hand side is displaced in parallel disposition to its direction. The pressures P2 and P4 on the left hand side, as well as the pressures P3 and P5 on the right hand side become zero, the pressures P3=P5'= /2Q and the pressures P2:P4= /2Q", and Q, being again increased correspondingly to the contraction of the respective spring. Also in this case the rolls are automatically returned by the sealing pressures into normal position.

The displacements of the rolls appear in the figures in exaggerated magnitude, in reality they are so small, that the contraction of the right hand spring is practically negligible. On the simultaneous displacement of three rolls conditions arise which are similar to those occurring in consequence of. the displacement of a single roll, this case thus also being covered by Fig. 21.

When hot treatment liquids are used, the springs exercising the thrusts Q and Q are contracted correspondingly to the longitudinal expansion of, the rolls. These increments of contraction of the spring, are however so small in comparison to-the contraction originally imparted to the spring that measurable. difierences in the. spring force on the application of hot or cold treatment liquids never take place in practice, whereas when the plates are unyieldingly pressed against the rolls in. the customary manner the slight longitudinal expansions of the rolls dueto these differences in temperature sufiiced for unduly increasing the sealing pressure, so that an extraordinarily great wear of the plates and the front sides of the rolls resulted and: now and then the machine was even stopped.

In order to improve the accessibility to the inner portions of the treatment space for manipulating purposes orfor demounting the inner parts of the machine, the sleeves 53 (Fig. 19) pressing the.v springs 52 and formed with screw threads are screwed back until the springs 52 are completely liberated and the press screws 51 thus adapted to be moved out of engagement with the sealing plates 8.

By the design disclosed in Figs. 16 and 17 including the three armed lever 9 a substantially uniform lateral sealing pressure is provided for the treatment space in the open and closed condition of the same by applying the thrust exerted by the spring 10 at three different points. Also with this arrangement the rolls after displacement are automatically returned in normal position which can be proved by correspondingly altering the schematical Figures 20 to 23 in adaptation to the different conditions of this case.

In the Figs. 24 and 25 guide rollers for the fabric are shown which are situated inside the treatment space or chamber 6 and journalled in the sealing plates 8 at 91. Modified supply means for the dye liquor in the form of sparge pipes 13 and 18" for the treatment chambers 6 and 7 respectively are also shown. The pipes 13 and 13" are supported by the left hand plate 8 in Fig. 25 through an intervening stud 92, connected to a supply tank 93 for the dye liquor, and controlled by valves 94. 13" are heating pipes passed through both plates 8 and controlled by valves 95 for regulating the temperature of the dye liquor in the treatment chambers 6 and 7. It is obvious that the places of intersection of the plates and pipes are sealed in liquid tight manner. In Fig. 26 additional guide rollers 96 are shown to be disposed exteriorly of the roll 5 the Y lower of which is mounted on the shaft 23 and the upper one between the two levers 32. It is obvious that the machine is adapted for treating any webshaped textile goods even of the most sensitive kind inclusive of warps.

I claim,

1. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means provided at said operators position for moving the rolls into separated position for providing access to said treatment chamber, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

2. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means provided at said operators position for moving two oppositely disposed rolls into separated position from the others for providing access to said treatment chamber, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

3. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means provided at said operators position for simultaneously moving two oppositely disposed rolls into separated position from the others for providing access to said treatment chamber, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

4. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, control means adapted for simultaneously increasing or reducing the pressure between all the rolls respectively, as well as disengaging the rolls and moving the rolls into separated position from a single operators position for providing access to said treatment chamber, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

5. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatably carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, an adjustable mounting frame for the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loading said swingable press levers for applying a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means for automatically adjusting said mounting frame for said second pair of pressure rolls for maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

6. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means-for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatable carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, an adjustable mounting frame for the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loadplaces of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means provided at said operators position for rocking said swingable press levers for successively disengaging said pressure roll mounted in the same and bodily moving said mounting frame for disengaging said opposed pressure rolls from said stationary pressure roll, means for automatically adjusting said mounting frame for said second pair of pressure rolls for maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

'7. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatably carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, a polygonal mounting frame member for the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair and substantially forming an angularly adjustable parallelogram, three sides of said parallelogram being of invariable length and two oppositely disposed sides of said three sides each carrying one of said rolls of said second pair, two links each hinged at one end to one of said opposed sides, a common rockable connecting lever for said links hingedly engaging the other ends of the same, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loading said swingable press levers for applying a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means for rocking said connecting lever from said operators position through an angle of 180 for moving said opposed pressure rolls of said second pair apart for providing access to said treatment chamber, means for automatically adjusting said mounting frame for said second pair of pressure rolls for maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

8. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatably carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, cam portions provided on said press levers, a polygonal mounting frame member for the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair and substantially forming an angularly adjustable parallelogram, three sides of said parallelogram being of invariable length and two oppositely disposed sides of said three sides each carrying one of said rolls of said second pair, two links each hinged at one end to one of said opposed sides, rollers provided on the hinge pins between said links and the respective sides, a common rockable connecting lever for said links hingedly engaging the other ends of the same, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loading said swingable press levers for applying a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means provided at said operators position for rocking said swingable press levers and bodily moving said mounting frame members after said cam portions on said levers contact said rollers for disengaging said opposed pressure rolls from said stationary pressure roll, means for rocking said connecting lever from said operators position through an angle of 180 for causing said rollers to run on said cam portions for moving said opposed pressure rolls of said second pair apart for providing access to said treatment chamber, means for automatically adjusting said mounting frame members for said second pair of pressure rolls for maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

9. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamher for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatably carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, two balancing levers for accommodating the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair, rockable bearings for said pressure rolls carried by said balancing levers, stop pins for said rockable bearings provided in said balancing levers for securing said bearings in the operative position of said opposed pressure rolls, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loading said swingable press levers for applying a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, a pin and slot connection provided between each press lever and the respective balancing lever affording automatical adjustment of said balancing levers for maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, means provided at said operators position for rocking said swingable press levers and bodily moving said mounting frame members after said pins contacting the end of said slots remote from the pressure rolls carried by said frame for disengaging said pressure rolls from said stationary pressure roll, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

10. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls forthe fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatably carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, two balancing levers for accommodating the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair, rockable bearings for said pressure rolls carried by said balancing levers, stop pins for said rockable bearings provided in said balancing levers for securing said bearings in the operative position of said opposed pressure rolls, lateral seal ing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loading said swingable press levers for applying a uniform pressure between said trolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, a pin and slot connection provided between each press lever and the respective balancing lever affording automatical adjustment of said balancing levers for maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, means provided at said operators position for rocking said swingable press levers and bodily moving said mounting frame members after said pins contacting the end of said slots remote from the pressure rolls carried by said frame for disengaging said pressure rolls from said stationary pressure roll, a transmission gear operatively connected with each rockable bearing, a hand control member provided at said operators position for the transmission gears of the rockable bearings of each pressure roll carried by said mounting frame for moving said rolls apart for providing access to said treatment chamber, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

11. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for the one pair of pressure rolls, movable bearings for the second pair of pressure rolls, spindles interconnecting said hearings on either side of said second pair of pressure rolls, a threaded portion at the one end of said spindles for engaging in the bearings of one roll, a spring connected to the other ends of said spindles and abutting against the bearings of the other roll, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, a common control means provided for said spindles at the operators position of the machine and adapted for simultaneously increasing the pressure between all the pressure rolls in the direction of movement for rendering the pressure rolls operative for disengaging the pressure rolls and moving the same apart in the opposite direction of movement for providing access to said treatment chamber, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

12. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for the one pair of pressure rolls, movable bearings for the second pair of pressure rolls, lugs provided on said bearings, spindles inter-connecting said lugs on either side of said second pair of pressure rolls, a threaded portion at the one end of said spindles for engaging in the lugs of said bearings of one roll, a spring connected to the other ends of said spindles and abutting against the lugs of the bearings of the other roll, guide tracks cooperating with said lugs on said bearings and adapted for supporting said lugs in the inoperative positions of said second pair of pressure rolls and releasing said lugs in the operative positions of said pressure rolls to liberate said second pair of presure rolls for automatically equalizing the working pressure and to maintain uniformity of pressure between all the rolls in cooperation with said springs, a common control means provided for said spindles at the operators position of the machine and adapted for simultaneously increasing the pressure between all the pressure rolls in the direction of movement for rendering the pressure rolls operative for disengaging the pressure rolls and moving the same apart in the opposite direction of movement for providing access to said treatment chamber, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

13. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, two pairs of oppositely disposed rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric and enclosing said treatment chamber, stationary mounting means for one of said pressure rolls of the one pair, swingable press levers rotatably carrying the other pressure roll of said first pair, and adjustable mounting frame for the oppositely disposed pressure rolls of the second pair, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, pressure exerting means adapted for loading said swingable press levers for applying a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, two eccentrics each carrying the outer end of one of said swingable press levers, a supporting shaft for said eccentrics extending from one side of the machine to the other, rockable mounting means for said shaft, stationary guide faces for said eccentrics adapting the same in cooperation with said rockable mounting means to guide the outer ends of said swingable press levers through a rectilinear path, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, means for automatically adjusting said mounting frame for said second pair of pressure rolls for maintaining uni formity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

14. In a machine for the wet treatment of fa brics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing plates for said treatment chamber, adjustable spring means for pressing said sealing plates uniformly against the front sides of said pressure rolls and automatically maintaining the rolls in their normal axial positions, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the,

fabric through the rolls.

15. In a machine for the wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing plates for said treatment chamber, adjustable spring means for pressing said sealing plates uniformly against the front sides of said pressure rolls and automatically maintaining the rolls in their normal axial positions, an adjusting device for said spring means adapted to regulate the spring pressure on each sealing plate in a single manipulation for obtaining a uniform sealing pressure between the plate and all four pressure rolls and automatically maintaining the rolls in their normal axial positions, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

16. In a machine for the Wet treatment of fabrics, the combination with a treatment chamber for the fabric, four rotatable pressure rolls for the fabric enclosing said treatment chamber, lateral sealing plates for said treatment chamber, retractile mounting means for said sealing plates adapted to relieve the plates from sealing pressure and to completely separate the plates from said pressure rolls, adjustable spring means for pressing said sealing plates uniformly against the front sides of said pressure rolls and. automatically maintaining the rolls in their normal axial positions, a device for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the Whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operator's position, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of presure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the fabric through the rolls.

17. In a machine for the Wet treatment of webshaped textile goods the combination with a treat ment chamber for the goods, four rotatable pressure rolls for the goods enclosing said treatment chamber in two oppositely disposed pairs operatively interconnected for common control, lateral sealing means for said treatment chamber, a device for simultaneously urging one of said pairs of rolls on the other pair for exerting a uniform pressure between said rolls at the four places of contact and along the whole length thereof, control means adapted for simultaneously regulating the pressure between all the rolls from a single operators position, pressure equalizing means adapted for automatically maintaining uniformity of pressure between all the pressure rolls, of driving means for passing the goods through the rolls.

HANS KARRER.

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